British Airways facing six days of strike action by mi...

British Airways facing six days of strike action by mixed fleet cabin crew

27 January 2017

Britain’s largest union, Unite announced today (Friday 27 January) that its cabin crew members working for British Airways mixed fleet would take a further six days of strike action in their ongoing dispute over poverty pay, unless the airline responded to calls to resolve the dispute.

The latest strike dates, Sunday 5, Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 February come after an open letter urged British Airways to get back around the negotiating table.

In the letter, sent to British Airways on Wednesday (25 January), Unite representatives for mixed fleet cabin crew urged the UK’s national carrier to take a different route, saying: “Your reluctance to offer a reasonable pay deal to our members, yet spend what we believe is now reaching millions of pounds in trying to quash strike action, suggests money is available and this is a question of ideology. We urge you to recognise that there is a chance here for British Airways to take a different route.”

It goes on to add: “We urge you to avoid any further dispute and do the right thing for your cabin crew and our customers by engaging with mixed fleet Unite to negotiate a genuinely meaningful way forward. We would suggest that we get back around the table, with the starting point being the encouraging start that we made at Acas before Christmas.”

As part of the dispute British Airways mixed fleet cabin crew have so far staged two stoppages, resulting in five days of strike action and the cancellation of flights and the ‘wet lease’ of aircraft from other airlines by British Airways.

“If it can afford to waste money in such a manner then British Airways can clearly afford to address pay levels which are among the lowest in the industry.

“We would urge British Airways to wake up to the determination of our members, who contribute massively to the billions of pounds in profits the airline generates, and get around the negotiating table to resolve the dispute and avoid a further six days of costly strike action.”

Since 2010 all British Airways new cabin crew employees join what is called ‘mixed fleet’, where despite promises that pay would be 10 per cent above the market rate, basic pay starts at just £12,192 with £3 an hour flying pay. Unite estimates that on average ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew earn £16,000, including allowances, a year.

ENDS

For further information please contact Unite head of media and campaigns Alex Flynn on 020 3371 2066 or 07967 665869.

Notes to editors:

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.